The federal government and stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector have reviewed the implementation of the ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ campaign in the North-West zone.

Opara Chizoma, the national coordinator of the campaign at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, made this known during the North-West zonal review meeting held in Kano.

Ms Chizoma said the meeting followed a national retreat earlier in the year, where states renewed their commitments to the goal of eliminating open defecation in the country.

She said the campaign, launched in 2019, aimed to make Nigeria open defecation-free, adding that zonal review meetings were introduced to accelerate progress and promote peer learning among states.

“At the zonal level, states are encouraged to interact, share strategies and monitor their performance,” she said.

Ms Chizoma stated that Jigawa remained the only state in the North-West to have achieved ODF status, calling on other states to emulate its commitment and approach.

In his remarks, the Jigawa Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency’s managing director, Abubakar Sidi, attributed the achievement to strong political will and consistent investments in infrastructure, as well as public sensitisation.

He said the journey to ODF status began in 2008 and involved the construction of sanitation facilities in schools, markets, hospitals, and other public spaces.

Mr Sidi added that Jigawa had established a state steering committee and technical teams at both the state and local government levels to ensure continued compliance and monitoring.

Mubarak Ladan, director-general of the Kaduna State RUWASA, said the state had recorded notable progress, with 10 local government areas now certified as ODF.

He commended Governor Uba Sani for prioritising the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector, adding that the state government’s political will played a key role in its success.

Mr Ladan also acknowledged the support of development partners such as UNICEF and the World Bank in providing technical and financial assistance.

Similarly, Shamwil Abdulkadir, managing director of RUWASA in Kano, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving access to potable water and sanitation.

He said Governor Abba Yusuf has continued to provide the necessary support and enabling environment for the campaign to thrive.

(NAN)